Carl and the Passions - "So Tough"

Infobox Album | Name = Carl and the Passions - "So Tough"
Type = Album
Artist = The Beach Boys


Released = 15 May 1972
Recorded = 4 December 1971 -
13 April 1972
Genre = Rock
Length = 34:26
Label = Brother Records/
Capitol Records
Producer = Carl Wilson, Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Ricky Fataar, Blondie Chaplin.
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:45rx28gc058a link]
*Robert Christgau (C+) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=beach+boys link]
Last album = "Surf's Up"
(1971)
This album = "Carl and the Passions - "So Tough"
(1972)
Next album = "Holland"
(1973)

"Carl and the Passions - "So Tough"" is the fifteenth studio album released by The Beach Boys in 1972. In its initial release, it was the second disc of a two-album set with "Pet Sounds" (which The Beach Boys were able to license from Capitol Records). Unfortunately, due to the fact that "Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" was a transitional album that saw the departure of one member and the introduction of two new ones, making it wildly inconsistent in terms of type of material present, it paled next to their 1966 classic and was seen as something of a disappointment in its time of release. The title of the album itself was a reference to an early band Carl Wilson had been in as a teenager (some say a possible early name for the Beach Boys). It was also the first album released under a new deal with Warner Bros. that allowed the company to distribute all future Beach Boys product in foreign as well as domestic markets.

In 1971, Carl (who served as the group's de facto musical director at this juncture) decided to spice up the structure of The Beach Boys by hiring third guitarist Blondie Chaplin, whose soulful singing brought a strong R&B element into the band's sound. Joining him was drummer Ricky Fataar after Dennis Wilson suffered a debilitating hand accident. Both had been discovered by Carl in 1969 while they were playing in a London band called The Flame.

Not long after the sessions began, Bruce Johnston had a falling out with manager Jack Rieley and quit the band (or was possibly fired). His main contribution, an early version of "Endless Harmony" entitled "Ten Years of Harmony", was re-recorded and eventually released in 1980 on "Keepin' the Summer Alive". Johnston quit because he was unenthused with Rieley's suggestion that the group adopt a hard rock approach and felt that Brian Wilson's prolonged lack of involvement had resulted in declining artistic quality (Jack Rielly claims he fired Johnston however for two reasons; to prevent him from voting in the group's democratic processes and second, because the supposed disrespect and contempt he was showing the eldest Wilson at the time). Brian Wilson himself barely contributed to the album's sessions, distracted by his personal demons and various extraneous side projects. These included the production of Spring's debut album (a reunion of The Honeys that included his wife and sister-in-law) and a projected trio with Tandyn Almer. Reportedly, their demo tape was rejected by A&M Records because Almer was considered a "troublemaker" by top brass; the executives also did not know who the lead singer on the tape was and were surprised when told it was Brian Wilson as the sound of his voice had changed since earlier days of the Beach Boys (and angered because they feared he was so crazy he "would be pitching circus tents in [their] parking lots."

Brian Wilson's contributions consisted of collaborating on writing two songs and singing backing vocals on "Cuddle Up", "He Come Down", "Marcella" and, reportedly, "You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone". "You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone", credited to Wilson and Rieley, was Wilson and Almer's "Beatrice From Baltimore" with less tawdry lyrics ("she's got some holes in her stockings/she do a whole lot of rockin'" is a couplet from the original lyrics). "Marcella" was a song written about a masseuse/prostitute known by Wilson, before Rieley again replaced most of Almer's lyrics with his own. "Marcella" is a song that evolved over a long period of time from the "All Summer Long" sessions named "All Dressed Up For School," which was revised during the "Sunflower" sessions as "I Just Got My Pay." The song evolved such that, while the background of the songs "Marcella" and "All Dressed Up For School" are similar, the similarities between the melodies of the song are very removed.

It's been speculated that "Carl And The Passions - "So Tough" was either scheduled to be released, or re-released, as a single album. A Warner/Reprise catalogue number, MS 2090, had been assigned to this single disc release, but nothing came of it. It should be noted that it was released as a stand-alone single album in Europe(Under Reprise Records)

The group photo on the inner sleeve was thought to have been doctored to show Brian with the rest of the Beach Boys, a fact confirmed when a picture featuring the same image of Brian appeared in a 2004 book by Keith Badman. This rare shot showed him surrounded by fellow band members - including Bruce Johnston (in his final group picture), but not with either Ricky Fataar or Blondie Chaplin, both of whom appeared on the final album cover. This is the last known group photo taken with Brian before a massive weight gain.

It was because of the jarring stylistic clashing that "Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" met with a less than rapturous response upon release, going as far as #50 in the US and #25 in the UK. Though still not considered to be among their finest albums, the passage of time has repaired "Carl And The Passions - "So Tough"'s critical standing considerably.

English Britpop band Saint Etienne used the title So Tough for their 1993 album as a homage to the Beach Boys. Likewise they also named their compilation of the same year You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone after the Beach Boys song.

Track listing

#"You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" (Brian Wilson/Jack Rieley) – 3:27
#* "Features Carl Wilson on lead vocals"
#"Here She Comes" (Ricky Fataar/Blondie Chaplin) – 5:10
#* "Features Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin on lead vocals"
#"He Come Down" (Brian Wilson/Al Jardine/Mike Love) – 4:41
#* "Features Mike Love, Blondie Chaplin, Al Jardine, and Carl Wilson on lead vocals"
#"Marcella" (Brian Wilson/Tandyn Almer/Jack Rieley) – 3:54
#* "Features Carl Wilson and Mike Love on lead vocals"
#"Hold On Dear Brother" (Ricky Fataar/Blondie Chaplin) – 4:43
#* "Features Blondie Chaplin on lead vocals"
#"Make It Good" (Dennis Wilson/Daryl Dragon) – 2:36
#* "Features Dennis Wilson on lead vocals"
#"All This Is That" (Alan Jardine/Carl Wilson/Mike Love) – 4:00
#* "Features Carl Wilson, Alan Jardine and Mike Love on lead vocals"
#"Cuddle Up" (Dennis Wilson/Daryl Dragon) – 5:30
#* "Features Dennis Wilson on lead vocals"

ingles

* "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" b/w "Cuddle Up" (Brother 1091), 15 May 1972
* "Marcella" b/w "Hold On Dear Brother" (Brother 1101), 26 June 1972) US #110

"Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" is now paired on CD with "Holland".

"Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" (Brother/Reprise 2MS 2083) hit #50 in the US during a 20 week chart stay. It reached #25 in the UK.

ources

* "Carl and the Passions - "So Tough"/"Holland" CD booklet notes, Elton John and Scott McCaughey, c.2000.
* "The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience", Timothy White, c. 1994.
* "Wouldn't It Be Nice - My Own Story", Brian Wilson and Todd Gold, c. 1991.
* "Top Pop Singles 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
* "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
* Allmusic.com

External links

* [http://www.surfermoon.com/lyrics/so_tough.html "Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" lyrics]